Wendy Brown was talking at a recent meeting of Storer and Ashby Road Residents Group (SARG) on April 22.

She told the meeting: “Most people just think of hate crime in regards to race or religion but there are actually nine protected incidences of hate crime such as sexuality, disabilities or gender and I don’t think these people are reporting those things.

“Fifty-one members of our frontline staff have had training in how to recognise a hate related incident because often people don’t recognise it. We understand that it’s very difficult for someone to come forward and claim they are being targeted but we are encouraging people to do this.”

To make a report of a hate incident or crime, call Charnwood Borough Council on 01509 634522, Leicestershire County Council’s Hate Incident Monitoring Project on 0116 305 2863 or Leicestershire Police via the non-emergency number 101.